Harvard University - Harvard Center Shanghai

Shanghai, China

LEED Gold

For the first time in their 371-year history, Harvard University has developed a permanent educational center outside of their campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The 18,000 sq. ft. Harvard Shanghai Center is located in the dynamic and rapidly growing Pudong District of Shanghai, China. This facility plays a strategic role in Harvard’s educational outreach and is the beginning of their long-term commitment to accomplish their global educational mission.

BDG helped Harvard investigate the potential locations for the new Center, and then design the new facility. The design needed to embrace the qualities of two cultures, Harvard’s long tradition of high-quality education, and China’s own culture and traditions of design and the arts. We consulted with a renowned Feng Shui consultant to refine the design and create traditional Chinese symbolisms . The design for the ceiling and lighting is based on traditional Chinese symbols offering “Prosperity from Earth to Heaven,” and an ancient Chinese Scholar Stone is the centerpiece of the reception area.

Faculty are sent from the Cambridge Campus to deliver bilingual courses using simultaneous translation. Video Conference technologies are used to bring additional faculty virtually to deliver courses. The Chinese Government and local population are very excited with this new educational opportunity with Harvard. Executive Education participants from around the world that would have typically attended in Cambridge now have the opportunity to connect with Harvard through this new facility in Shanghai.

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